Fortnite: Epic Games Changes In-Game Currency Policy

Fortnite, the well-known gaming platform from Epic Games that first found success with its Battle Royale mode, was not the first online product to use microtransaction mechanics, and it certainly won't be the last. However, the house of Unreal has decided to put an end to a thorny issue that the medium has been carrying for far too long.

We are referring to the fact that to purchase in-game items, such as skins or animations, it is necessary to possess the game's virtual currency – in Fortnite's case, the so-called V-Bucks – which is obtained by purchasing "packs" from authorized digital stores. The controversy concerns the fact that when you want to buy an item, its price rarely matches the quantity of V-Bucks contained in a pack, which forces the user to buy more currency than necessary. Obviously, the extra currency is not "wasted," as it remains available in the account's wallet, but it goes without saying that the impression of spending more than you should is tangible, especially if you are not in the habit of making these purchases frequently.

Epic Games and the New V-Bucks Policy

To address this dissatisfaction, Epic Games has decided that starting next month, it will be possible to purchase V-Bucks in the exact quantity needed to redeem desired content: "Starting October 14, we're adding exact V-Buck amounts to the Fortnite purchase page to allow you to maximize your V-Buck balance to the exact amount needed for the item you're trying to buy," the company announced. "Say, for example, you want an item that costs 500 V-Bucks but you have 400 in your account: you'll be able to purchase exactly the 100 V-Bucks needed."

Obviously, this will not preclude the possibility of purchasing the aforementioned V-Bucks packs in advance, perhaps with the intention of taking advantage of discounts guaranteed for large quantities, but it is undoubtedly something that can make an occasional purchase more inviting and less "deceptive."

Epic Games has also pre-announced that the measure will subsequently be extended to other games in their catalog, starting with Fall Guys and Rocket League: the new billing will be applied on PC, Xbox, Nintendo, and Mobile platforms... for now, confirmation for Sony platforms is missing, but things could align between now and October...